Body Treatments That Actually Work for Smooth, Firmer-Looking Skin
We all know I love a good facial massage session, custom facial, nano-infusion, and/or facial LED therapy for treating our neck and up. But what about treatments for our bodies? Which treatments are best for improving the overall texture, clarity, and firmness of the skin on our bodies? Because that skin is just as important…maybe even more so, because the skin on our body is about 97% of all of our total skin, our faces only take up 3%.
This is my effective body treatment list ✨
I decided to keep the focus of this article on body treatments that really have an effect on our skin's appearance. I’m a huge fan of treatments that improve skin and body health as well as have beauty benefits, and these treatments are exactly that. Of course, I love other wellness body treatments like dry needling, acupuncture, and strain-counterstrain therapy (to name a few faves), but we can dive deeper into all that at a different time. For now, let’s get our skin summer-ready!
scrub me secret: i’m starting with my personal favorite body treatment first 😉
Brazillian Lymphatic Drainage Massage
Brazilian lymphatic drainage massage is a specific type of body therapy treatment that is different from other lymphatic drainage body massages. This method is a blend of manual lymphatic drainage, as well as deep fascia release and circulation-boosting massage. The result is firmer, more toned skin and more contour in places where you were retaining excess fluid. And lymphatic drainage + a boost of circulation in the body is great for the immune system and our overall health.
This treatment is where your practitioner uses their hands and soft, light rhythmic movements to move stagnant lymphatic fluid. This fluid can be held in any areas, but most commonly, the hips, thighs, glutes, lower back, stomach, and the backs of the arms. Then, tools like suction cups, rollers, textured rollers, and fascia release tools are used in faster, deeper pressure motions to release stuck fascia and boost circulation. It feels SO good to get a deep release and move stagnant lymphatic fluid. And the results are a more toned, firmer, softer body.
These instant visible results usually last around a week. I love this for a pre-vacation and oftentimes as a birthday treat.
scrub me secret: my absolute FAVORITE place to go when I lived in Chicago was a place called Freeze and Float. In this treatment, at freeze and float, you also get to sit in an infrared sauna before your massage. I see I have a lot of options in Denver, but if anyone has a specific recommendation for near Boulder, let me know!
Superficial Cupping for Cellulite
This type of body cupping is different than the cupping therapy we use to treat muscles and tense or injured tissues. This cupping leaves no marking or bruising behind, just plump and firm skin! I had this treatment done on the backs of my legs a few months ago, and I loved the results.
Your massage therapist will first massage your body with quick and light effleurage movements to encourage some energy flow in the skin cells. And then medium/large body suction cups are used in your area of choice. Common places we see cellulite are the backs of arms, legs, stomach, and back. Any of those places can be treated. Your therapist uses these cups along with different massage methods using their hands to break up tissues and fascia that might be causing cellulite. This massage also helps firm and strengthen skin tissues, helping them to be healthier and look better.
scrub me secret: the main cause of CELLULITE hasn’t really been found out. We know it is caused by a change in the structure of the connective tissues and fat. Causes can be genetic, hormonal factors, or aging. Women's fat cells sit in vertical chambers, so they press against the skin more easily. Men's fat forms a crisscross pattern less likely to bulge. This is why women struggle with cellulite more than men.
Red LED & Infrared Bed
Red LED is a really effective treatment for firming our skin and reducing signs of aging, like wrinkles and sagging, by promoting collagen and elastin renewal. These collagen and elastin proteins are important elements in our skin’s structure that keep it plump, strong, firm, and healthy. Infrared light waves penetrate our skin cells and tissues more deeply than LED light waves. Infrared light creates energy in our cells to help the body function better; they also have anti-inflammatory and healing benefits for the skin and muscles.
A Red LED and infrared light therapy bed is great for both muscle recovery and for helping the skin on the body to be firm and more youthful-looking. So once again, this is both a beauty and an internal wellness practice. You can find beds like these at spas, wellness clinics, some gyms, and LED therapy-focused businesses.
Just like the face, LED and infrared therapy benefits build as you consistently treat your skin/body. I would suggest sessions once a week; you’ll start to feel less inflamed immediately and your skin will start to look firmer and glow more after about a month.
scrub me secret: an infrared sauna is another wellness therapy I really like. This is when you sit in a dry, heated sauna that also has infrared light panels. The combination of the warmth and the anti-inflammatory infrared light is really healing and great for pain relief and muscle recovery.
Body Scrub - An Effective One
Just like facials, some body scrub treatments can be more frou-frou and luxury fluff vs. something that is actually going to give you the results you want. The best body scrub treatment is a blend of actually effective, skin softening, circulation-boosting exfoliation, plus a relaxing massage moment when body butter, lotion, or oil is applied post-scrub. I would visit a Korean Bathhouse in your area or a solo esthetician or massage therapist who offers a body scrub service. Body treatments at these types of places tend to focus more on skin and wellness and less on scents and relaxation.
A great body scrub treatment will leave your body super soft, while also keeping you energized with an oxygen- and circulation-boost to your skin, muscles, joints, and other tissues. I find the most effective types of body scrubs to be sugar-based scrubs, eposom salt scrubs, and ground coffee scrubs. And also my special dry brush glove, body polish treatment at the Scrub Me Skin Care Studio. It’s the best ✨